Dr. Katerina Naydenova

Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology
Otto-Hahn-Staße 11
44227 Dortmund

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  Molecular and Chemical Cell Biology

Research Overview

Our research group seeks to understand how cells protect themselves from cytosolic threats such as invading bacteria, misfolded proteins, and damaged organelles. When these defense systems fail, the consequences are catastrophic: accumulation of protein aggregates is linked to neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s; disrupted lipid turnover contributes to metabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes and fatty liver disease; and defective organelle recycling can drive inflammation, impair immunity, and promote tumorigenesis. Despite their importance for human health, the molecular mechanisms that govern these processes remain poorly understood.

We address this challenge through two closely connected research directions. We dissect the pathways that enable cells to recognize, process, and eliminate cytosolic threats, using a combination of molecular, functional, and structural approaches. Second, we also invent new experimental methods to make these processes visible and measurable in cells: in particular, we develop electron microscopy techniques for visualising proteins and their interactions directly within their native cellular context.

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